Helpful Score: 3
One of the best books I have ever read. Superb writing and the fact that it was true.....wow.
Richard (Founder-PBS) -
Helpful Score: 2
This is a wonderful book about courage, hardship, destiny and defying the odds. An incredible adventure that will keep you turning page after page. And the best part? It is a true story. This book is one of my all time favorites. Read it and enjoy.
Helpful Score: 2
An exciting tale of Ernest Shackleton voyage to Anatarcia beginning in 1914. Quick easy read.
Helpful Score: 2
An incredible book! You've heard, "You can't put it down," but this one you literally can't put down!!!!
Helpful Score: 1
By far the pinnacle of books relating to Shackletons epic journey. This book made my husband and I BAWL at the end. Terrific true history. Get it!!!
Andrew B. (armchairexplorer) reviewed Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage on + 44 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
A fascinating telling of a great story of heroism, seamanship, and leadership. With photo section.
Helpful Score: 1
Bound for Antarctica, shackleton planned to cross on foot the last continent. After battling for 6 weeks and a 100 miles of ice the ship is locked in ice. The battle continues - you will love it for the adventure and its TRUE.
Bob M. (Hissy-Fitz) -
Helpful Score: 1
Very gripping story, and I am not usually a fan of adventure type memoirs. I was completely captivated by quotes from the men's diaries, plus there are actual photos. Not your average man-against-nature book. I highly recommend it.
Fabulously written about an incredible episode in the tragic history of polar exploration. If you know nothing of Shackleton's last attempt, read this book before reading anything else. It is fabulous and will have you on the edge of your seat.
This was a great true life adventure story with impressive historical detail.
I have read it and found it hard to put down! Well-written and full of suspense.
Helpful Score: 1
This riveting and entirely true story will leave you breathless! It's the ultimate adventure/survival tale, based on contemporaneous diaries and interviews conducted by the author with the exceptional men who survived.
Good book but a little hard to get thru(likely just the writing style). Author brings to life the events of Ernest Shackleton's quest to cross Antarctica on foot and the ordeal he and the crew went thru when they unexpectedly get trapped in the ice.
Ever since viewing a documentary on Sir Ernest Shackleton's ordeal after losing his ship to packed ice in Antarctica, I have wanted to learn more details. I chose this book which was published in 1959 and written by a man who still had access to a few surviving members of Shackleton's 1914 expedition. This story of survival is truly amazing, right up there with Louis Zamperini's WWII nightmarish journey. How Shackleton worked to keep his crew and expedition members out of harm's away with each new danger is an astonishing tale, as is the optimism expressed by his men in such horrendous circumstances. Highly recommended reading!
Amazing story, Must read, even for those who are not too adventurous.
What an incredible story! Well written, factual, and gripping.
This is one of the most amazing survival stories in human history, and Alfred Lansing does an incredible job of putting you into the minds of these men as they survive the impossible. I never read books more than once, but I make an exception for this book. I have read it several times and it never ceases to amaze.
I cannot recommend this highly enough. A must read for any fan of literature about adventure or sailing. Also a great read for anyone that just likes a great story. It's a bonus that is actually true!
I cannot recommend this highly enough. A must read for any fan of literature about adventure or sailing. Also a great read for anyone that just likes a great story. It's a bonus that is actually true!
Julie B. (heartinthehighlands) reviewed Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage on + 54 more book reviews
I don't normally read this type of book. My daughter-in-law loaned it to me. I could not put it down. I read it all day and stayed up 'til 2:30 a.m. because I could not stop until I knew how it ended. I couldn't have slept. The books is so good, I would have lain awake all night worrying about whether they got to safety. I'm sure I irritated my family by reading portions aloud as I went along (which I never do). This is the epitome of a 'page-turner'!
Fantastic book. If you want to understand the true meaning of leadership, read this history.
One of the best adventure stories ever, and it's all true!
I'll give you the description on the back of the book, but first let me say, this is not my usual "type" of reading and I COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN!!!
"Bound for Antarctica, where polar explorer Ernest Shackleton planned to cross on foot the last uncharted continent, the Endurance set sail from England, in August 1914. In January 1915, after battling its way for six weeks through a thousand miles of pack ice and now only a day's sail short of its destination, the Endurance became locked inside an island of ice. For ten months the ice-moored Endurance drifted northwest before it was finally crushed. But for Shackleton and his crew of twenty-seven men the ordeal had barely begun. It would end only after a near-miraculous journey by Shackleton and a skeleton crew through over 850 miles of the South Atlantic's heaviest seas to the closest outpost of civilization.
"This astonishing tale of survival by Shackleton and all twenty-seven of his men for over a year on the ice-bound Antarctic seas, as Time magazine put it, 'defined heroism.' Alfred Lansing's brilliantly narrated books has long been acknowledged as the definitive account of the Endurance's fateful trip. This new edition of the all-time bestseller has been augmented with maps and illustrations."
You will find yourself "living" this adventure right along with these men and being so sure at many points that it will not succeed that it's successful ending is truly a miracle.
Book is in great shape...possibly edges of pages have yellowed some...I keep looking at them, but I can't be sure.
"Bound for Antarctica, where polar explorer Ernest Shackleton planned to cross on foot the last uncharted continent, the Endurance set sail from England, in August 1914. In January 1915, after battling its way for six weeks through a thousand miles of pack ice and now only a day's sail short of its destination, the Endurance became locked inside an island of ice. For ten months the ice-moored Endurance drifted northwest before it was finally crushed. But for Shackleton and his crew of twenty-seven men the ordeal had barely begun. It would end only after a near-miraculous journey by Shackleton and a skeleton crew through over 850 miles of the South Atlantic's heaviest seas to the closest outpost of civilization.
"This astonishing tale of survival by Shackleton and all twenty-seven of his men for over a year on the ice-bound Antarctic seas, as Time magazine put it, 'defined heroism.' Alfred Lansing's brilliantly narrated books has long been acknowledged as the definitive account of the Endurance's fateful trip. This new edition of the all-time bestseller has been augmented with maps and illustrations."
You will find yourself "living" this adventure right along with these men and being so sure at many points that it will not succeed that it's successful ending is truly a miracle.
Book is in great shape...possibly edges of pages have yellowed some...I keep looking at them, but I can't be sure.
This is the most incredible true-life survival adventure that I have ever read! Shackleton and his crew become stranded on the surface of the frozen Weddell Sea when their ship, The Endurance, is crushed by ice during an Antarctic expedition and overcome incredible odds to survive.
Really good and interesting book.
Hard to put down this true-live action adventure!
R E K. (bigstone) - , reviewed Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage on + 1452 more book reviews
It seems like a miracle that Shackleton's entire party survived their ordeal against such daunting odds and extreme weather - frigid temperatures, gale force winds, rain, sea water, and ice. The story of their experiences is inspiring from start to finish.
While I remember much about the expedition from history I decided to read this condensed version for a firsthand view of the voyage. Stranded on the ice and watching their ship, Endurance, crushed by the ice pack must have been disheartening. However, Shackleton seems to be a good leader.
The group launches three boats hoping to reach land and safety. The trip is filled with gales, rain, snow and ice that needs to be chipped from the boats time and again. The chances of reaching a small island in the vast ocean is daunting but they have to try. It's the only way to survive.
Imagine living on ice for a third of a year. Somehow when the food becomes short something happens to give them a bit more. In in the boats they are trying to reach land over deadly waters with a cross current. No longer can they camp on ice especially after they almost lose two members of the party when the ice floes split. The boats are in open water using makeshift sails and oars . The groups launches boats hoping to reach land and safety. The trip is filled with gale force winds, rain, snow and ice that needs to be chipped from the boats time and time again. The chances of reaching a small island in the vast ocean is daunting but they have to try. It's the only way to survive. The final trek over St. George's unknown rugged interior to the whaling station by three members of the party is another unbelievable effort.
The group launches three boats hoping to reach land and safety. The trip is filled with gales, rain, snow and ice that needs to be chipped from the boats time and again. The chances of reaching a small island in the vast ocean is daunting but they have to try. It's the only way to survive.
Imagine living on ice for a third of a year. Somehow when the food becomes short something happens to give them a bit more. In in the boats they are trying to reach land over deadly waters with a cross current. No longer can they camp on ice especially after they almost lose two members of the party when the ice floes split. The boats are in open water using makeshift sails and oars . The groups launches boats hoping to reach land and safety. The trip is filled with gale force winds, rain, snow and ice that needs to be chipped from the boats time and time again. The chances of reaching a small island in the vast ocean is daunting but they have to try. It's the only way to survive. The final trek over St. George's unknown rugged interior to the whaling station by three members of the party is another unbelievable effort.
While I remember much about the expedition from history I decided to read this condensed version for a firsthand view of the voyage. Stranded on the ice and watching their ship, Endurance, crushed by the ice pack must have been disheartening. However, Shackleton seems to be a good leader.
The group launches three boats hoping to reach land and safety. The trip is filled with gales, rain, snow and ice that needs to be chipped from the boats time and again. The chances of reaching a small island in the vast ocean is daunting but they have to try. It's the only way to survive.
Imagine living on ice for a third of a year. Somehow when the food becomes short something happens to give them a bit more. In in the boats they are trying to reach land over deadly waters with a cross current. No longer can they camp on ice especially after they almost lose two members of the party when the ice floes split. The boats are in open water using makeshift sails and oars . The groups launches boats hoping to reach land and safety. The trip is filled with gale force winds, rain, snow and ice that needs to be chipped from the boats time and time again. The chances of reaching a small island in the vast ocean is daunting but they have to try. It's the only way to survive. The final trek over St. George's unknown rugged interior to the whaling station by three members of the party is another unbelievable effort.
The group launches three boats hoping to reach land and safety. The trip is filled with gales, rain, snow and ice that needs to be chipped from the boats time and again. The chances of reaching a small island in the vast ocean is daunting but they have to try. It's the only way to survive.
Imagine living on ice for a third of a year. Somehow when the food becomes short something happens to give them a bit more. In in the boats they are trying to reach land over deadly waters with a cross current. No longer can they camp on ice especially after they almost lose two members of the party when the ice floes split. The boats are in open water using makeshift sails and oars . The groups launches boats hoping to reach land and safety. The trip is filled with gale force winds, rain, snow and ice that needs to be chipped from the boats time and time again. The chances of reaching a small island in the vast ocean is daunting but they have to try. It's the only way to survive. The final trek over St. George's unknown rugged interior to the whaling station by three members of the party is another unbelievable effort.
I read this book years ago & fascinated by it. The tale is engrossing. I love this type of real historical inspiring adventure.
A true adventure that reads like a fictional tale. Amazing story.
The phrase "it will keep you at the edge of your seat" usually refers to movies. This book definitely did that for me. It is REALLY exciting! If these men were alive today, they would all be more than 120 yrs. old. But they will come alive and you will get to know each individual in this exciting adventure. The horrific conditions they endured, their repeated attempts to escape the ice, and their sheer determination to survive makes for excellent reading. Each man's place in the story is clear. You become acquainted with their strenghts and weaknesses. It took the efforts of all to make it through. The ingenuity shown in the way they could create what was needed out of next to nothing is truly amazing. So many times their plans and efforts were thwarted, yet they went back to new efforts every time. I don't normally read this kind of book, and I am so glad I read this! It is excellent! I definitely recommend it. D. (gardngal)
absolutely fantastic recounting of a truly amazing time in our history...reminded me of the Lost City of Z, which had the same type characters who refused to give up. of course, the ending was much more positive.
Amazing story a must read!!
Lynda C. (Readnmachine) reviewed Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage on + 1474 more book reviews
In 1914, explorer Ernest Shackleton set sail from England, bound for Antarctica, where he planned to lead an expedition across the last unexplored continent. But his ship was caught, and ultimately destroyed, by the pack ice, and he and his men endured a miserable winter before realizing they were going to have to split their force, with half braving the world's worst seas in a 22-foot boat, seeking help, while the rest stayed behind to face months more of unrelenting cold.
Not an easy read, but an amazing story of human endurance.
Not an easy read, but an amazing story of human endurance.
i haven't read it, but it's supposed to be the best account of the voyage
Slow start and the end notes were a little tedious, but the book itself was an amazing story and well told. If I hadn't known these guys survived to the end, I might not have finished it because their ordeal was so overwhelming. People today can't fathom the amount of human endurance required of those in times past. This book is part suspense, part history, and part action / adventure....with a good dose of humanity thrown in. Excellent read.
Susan R. (dustbunnyfinds) reviewed Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage on + 21 more book reviews
I read it years ago and loved it - an incredible story, A story that stays with you, that you reflect on in winter when you think of the men and how they survived. Our copy was passed around until we lost track of it. This is a replacement that I want to pair with "Shackleton's Way" a book on leadership. A gift for my nephew the X-generation. I was so pleased with the condition of the book I received thru Paperback Swap. Made me a believer and avid fan of your program.
